January 11, 2013

Gun control group wants better background checks

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence on Friday released a list of recommendations that it wants the Obama administration to include its possible solutions to help curb gun violence.

Its top priority is more comprehensive background checks that would prevent convicted felons, domestic abusers, the dangerously mentally ill and other prohibited purchasers from purchasing guns.

Other recommendations: Improve the ability to identify people who present the most risk, especially among the mentally ill, give law enforcement the tools to crack down on gun trafficking and prevent straw purchases (such as limiting the number of guns that can be purchased in a short period of time, making gun trafficking a federal offense and allowing the ATF to conduct more than one spot inspection a year for dealers), eliminate legal loopholes that protect dangerous practices that contribute to gun deaths and injuries and limit the availability of military-style weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines.

“There is no one answer to preventing gun violence. It is a complex problem that deserves a comprehensive set of solutions,” said Dan Gross, the group's president. “The recommendations we are presenting to the White House reflect what we believe are the changes that can have the biggest impact right away. We cannot wait any longer. The American public wants this conversation to be taking place, but more importantly, they want action. We believe that as a nation we are better than this, and our recommendations can make a real difference.”